Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that after being missing for several days, three people were found buried in a shallow grave near their hut. The three victims were last seen by their family on 2 March. The continuing presence of the military has heightened the threats and harassment in the community.
CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by the Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN) and Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) and Bulatlat)
On 7 March 2014, Freddie ‘Fermin” Ligiw, (29), Eddie Ligiw, in his mid thirties and Licuben Ligiw in his mid sixties were found in a shallow grave near their hut. Their bodies were piled one on top of the other in the grave. The body of Eddie was at the bottom. He was shirtless when found. On top of him were the bodies of his father, Licuben and his brother, Fermin.
Photo by Arkibong Bayan
All were in a fetal position. The hands of Eddie and Fermin were bound by thick nylon ropes. There were rope marks around the neck of Ama Licuben. Eddie had dark marks in the chest area. Fermin’s head was “nalumo” (iloko term) meaning that some parts of his head had been severely beaten.
On 2 March, Fermin went home from the military operation after he was forced to serve as guide by the military. He ate with his family and told them he would see his father Licuben at their pacalso. Fermin, his brother, Eddie and father, Licuben, were last seen by their family members at their pacalso, a hut used as shelter of farmers and small-scale miners. The three never returned home. For days, the family members assisted, by the Abra Human Rights Alliance, searched for them.
Fermin was supposed to meet with human rights groups to narrate how he was forcibly used as a guide when he went missing. On 19 February he was forcibly taken by elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion. He served as guide in the military operation against the New People’s Army in Lenneng, Domenglay, Baay-Licuan, Abra Province.
The three victims and their immediate family are from Binongan Tribe in Tingguan, Abra. They are members and leaders of Kakailian Salakniban Tay Amin ti Nagtaudan, (KASTAN), the provincial chapter of Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) in Abra, an indigenous peoples organisation. These organisations have long been under attack by the AFP with their political vilification campaigns, branding these organisations as terrorists.
Even after the Ligiws were laid to rest, harassment, threats, intimidation and other human rights violations heightened in the community due to the continuing presence of the military.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case.
The AHRC is also writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Special Rapporteur on rights of indigenous peoples
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ……………. ,
PHILIPPINES: Three indigenous miners were found buried in shallow grave
Name of killed victims:
1. Freddie “Fermin” Ligiw, (29).
2. Eddie Ligiw, mid thirties
3. Licuben Ligiw, mid sixties
All of them belong to the Binongan Tribe and were all members of the Kakailian Salakniban Tay Amin ti Nagtaudan, (KASTAN), the provincial chapter of Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) in Abra, an indigenous people organisation.
Alleged Perpetrators: Elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion.
Date of incident: 2 March 2014
Place of incident: Lenneng, Domenglay, Baay-Licuan, Abra Province
I am writing to raise my grave concern regarding the killing of three members of the Ligiw family. On 7 March 2014, Freddie ‘Fermin” Ligiw, (29), Eddie Ligiw, in his mid thirties and Licuben Ligiw in his mid sixties were found in a shallow grave near their hut. Their bodies were piled, one of top of the other in the grave. The body of Eddie was at the bottom. He was shirtless when found. On top of him were the bodies of his father, Licuben and his brother, Fermin.
All were in fetal position. The hands of Eddie and Fermin were bound by thick nylon ropes. There were rope marks around the neck of Ama Licuben. Eddie had dark marks in the chest area. Fermin’s head was “nalumo” (iloko term) meaning that some parts of his head had been severely beaten.
On 2 March, Fermin went home from the military operation after he was forced to serve as guide by the military. He ate with his family and told them he would see his father Licuben at their pacalso. Fermin, his brother, Eddie and father, Licuben, were last seen by their family members at their pacalso, a hut used as shelter of farmers and small-scale miners. The three never returned home. For days, the family members, assisted by the Abra Human Rights Alliance, searched for them.
I learned that Fermin, was supposed to meet with human rights groups to narrate how he was forcibly used as a guide when he went missing. On February 19 he was forcibly taken by the elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion. He served as guide in the military operation against the New People’s Army in Lenneng, Domenglay, Baay-Licuan, Abra Province.
The three victims and their immediate family are from Binongan Tribe in Tingguan, Abra. They are members and leaders of the Kakailian Salakniban Tay Amin ti Nagtaudan, (KASTAN), the provincial chapter of Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) in Abra, indigenous peoples organisation. These organizations have long been under attack by the AFP with their political vilification campaign branding these organizations as terrorists.
Even after the Ligiws were laid to rest, harassment, threats, intimidation and other human rights violations heightened in the community due to the continuing presence of the military.
I urge you to investigate the murder thoroughly and effectively and ensure that those involved are held responsible without delay. I also urge you to ensure the witnesses and families of the murdered victims, should they decide to prosecute the case, be guaranteed with adequate security and protection promptly.
I trust that you will take appropriate action in this.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Benigno Aquino III
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
2. Ms. Loretta Ann Rosales
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
E-mail: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com
3. Police Director Alan LM Purisima
Chief, Philippine National Police
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City, Philippines
Fax +632 7248763
Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph
4. Ms. Leila de Lima
Secretary
Department of Justice (DOJ)
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
E-mail: soj@doj.gov.ph
5. Cordillera Administrative Region Director
Engineer Sancho S. Buquing
Director IV
National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
2nd and 3rd Floor, Lyman Ogilby Centrum (Annex)
#358 Magsaysay Ave., Baguio City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 74 422-41-73
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)
